Paper II
2021 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)

Question

Letrozole in breast cancer after surgery

Q91 marksShort Answers

Answer

Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor. In postmenopausal women, peripheral aromatization of androgens (in adipose tissue) becomes the major source of oestrogen after ovarian function ceases. Many breast cancers are hormone-receptor-positive and dependent on oestrogen for growth. By inhibiting aromatase, letrozole blocks this peripheral oestrogen synthesis, depriving residual/micrometastatic tumour cells of the oestrogen needed for growth, making it effective adjuvant (post-surgical) therapy to reduce recurrence risk in hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

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